Homebrew AlternativesTop Package Managers & Software Installers like Homebrew

Homebrew is described as 'The easiest and most flexible way to install the UNIX tools Apple didn’t include with macOS. Also available for Linux' and is a very popular Package Manager in the os & utilities category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Homebrew for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Mac, Windows, Web-based and Flatpak apps. The best Homebrew alternative is Chocolatey, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Homebrew are Ninite, MacUpdater, Scoop and Flatpak.

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Homebrew alternatives are mainly Package Managers, but if you're looking for Software Installers or Software Updaters you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Windows and Mac. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Homebrew.
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Alternatives list

  1. Chocolatey icon
     344 likes

    Command-line application for installing, updating, and removing Windows software without registration, featuring centralized audits, automatic package creation, offline packages, disk space optimization, real-time deployment, inventory tracking, and multi-installer support.

    74 Chocolatey alternatives

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
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    1
    Chocolatey vs Homebrew Comments
    Shaz Shah
    Positive
    0

    It is probably the closest you can get to a Homebrew experience as Chocolately does have a command line interface. It's not as elegant, but a very useful package manager to quickly setup new machines.

    • Chocolatey is Freemium and Open SourceHomebrew is Free and Open Source
    • Chocolatey is Privacy focusedHomebrew is not according to our users
  2. Ninite icon
     679 likes

    Ninite is the easiest way to install software. Pick the apps you want, and the Ninite installer will download and install all of your selected apps at once, automatically. It is 100% hands-free; Ninite automatically rejects browser toolbars and other prepackaged junk.

    77 Ninite alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
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    1
    Ninite vs Homebrew Comments
    RemovedUser
    Negative
    1

    Ninite won't give you access to hundreds of open source and CLI softwares like Homebrew does.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Ninite is Freemium and ProprietaryHomebrew is Free and Open Source
  3. MacUpdater icon
     270 likes

    Automates scanning for outdated third-party Mac software, delivers one-click updates, runs silent daily checks, sends update alerts, and keeps an update history. Free trial scans, while bulk updating beyond ten apps requires a paid license and detailed control.

    18 MacUpdater alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  4. Flatpak icon
     72 likes

    Distributing applications on Linux is a pain: different distributions in multiple versions, each with their own versions of libraries and packaging formats. Flatpak is here to change all that. It allows the same app to be installed on different Linux distributions, including...

    29 Flatpak alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  5. WinGet icon
     52 likes

    Open-source CLI enables installing, upgrading, removing, and configuring Windows software from a curated repository, supports YAML configuration files, automates device setup with PowerShell DSC, and serves developers, enterprises, and software vendors.

    14 WinGet alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  6. Patch My PC icon
     126 likes

    Patch My PC Home Updater is a free, user-friendly software designed to keep over 300 applications on your computer up-to-date. It automates the process of updating and installing apps, ensuring your system is secure and running smoothly without the hassle of manual updates1.

    69 Patch My PC alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  7. Flathub icon
     49 likes

    Flathub is the place to get and distribute apps for all of desktop Linux. It is powered by Flatpak, allowing Flathub apps to run on almost any Linux distribution.

    23 Flathub alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Online
     
  8. Nix is a powerful package manager for macOS, Linux and other Unix systems that makes package management reliable and reproducible. It provides atomic upgrades and rollbacks, side-by-side installation of multiple versions of a package, multi-user package management and easy setup...

    55 Nix Package Manager alternatives

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
     
  9. The pacman package manager is one of the major distinguishing features of Arch Linux . It combines a simple binary package format with an easy-to-use build system. The goal of pacman is to make it possible to easily manage packages, whether...

    44 pacman (package manager) alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Arch Linux
     
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    1
    pacman (package manager) vs Homebrew Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    Because it doesn't work on Macs! Duh!

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • pacman (package manager) is Free and Open SourceHomebrew is also Free and Open Source
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